Waterless bathing for inpatients with neurological issues and complex needs

This article explores the introduction of waterless bathing techniques in a specialist hospital for people who have complex medical needs often as a result of acquired brain injury or serious neurological conditions. As dedicated health professionals, our primary goal is to provide the highest standard of care, particularly for patients experiencing neurological challenges. Traditional soap and washcloth bathing methods can cause discomfort to such patients, which prompted the ward-based nursing teams providing care to investigate the practicality and efficacy of waterless bathing tailored to patients' individual needs.

In addition to patient comfort, efficient time management is paramount in healthcare. Therefore, the author also looked at whether waterless bathing could save time without compromising patient care.

This study investigated waterless bathing, examining its potential to improve patient experiences while upholding the highest standards of healthcare. Four case studies are used to evaluate and demonstrate the application of these techniques.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) persist as a pressing concern within the NHS (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2016). These infections can arise from medical procedures, surgical interventions or mere exposure to pathogens within healthcare facilities.